Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1208 EAT on Monday 2 March 2026

Airlines are continuing to cancel and reroute flights across the Middle East after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran.

Operations at airports in Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha, as well as other key regional hubs, have been suspended.

The UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals to avoid all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, urging those already in the countries to remain in safe locations.

Iran’s attacks on Gulf states form part of its retaliation to US and Israeli strikes that began early on Saturday. The disruption is also rippling through long-haul travel, with Heathrow Airport advising passengers to check the status of their flights with airlines

British government officials are understood to be drawing up plans for the possible evacuation of UK nationals from the Middle East, although the timing of any move remains unclear as much of the region’s airspace stays closed.

Emirates has suspended operations in and out of Dubai until 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Monday due to airspace restrictions, while Etihad Airways has halted flights from Abu Dhabi until 02:00 local time.

One person has been killed and 11 others injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since the strikes began. Four of those injured were staff at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic.

British Airways has cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday. The airline said flights between Heathrow Airport and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv could be disrupted for several days.

Richard and Hannah, from London, had been travelling to Oman but are now stranded in Bahrain.

“In the early hours of this morning a drone attacked the airport, so we can’t reach Oman this evening as planned,” Hannah said on Sunday, describing an “uneasy 24 hours”.

With the situation in the region potentially escalating, the couple said they are now looking to return home.

Virgin Atlantic suspended flights between London and both Riyadh and Dubai over the weekend.

The carrier warned that services to India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives could face extended journey times as aircraft are rerouted around affected airspace.
It is among several global airlines that have cancelled or diverted flights to avoid restricted corridors.

Airspace over Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed on Sunday, with partial restrictions in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Airspace in Jordan and Lebanon remains open, though flight activity is limited.
Tracking data indicates many Europe–Asia services are being diverted via Saudi Arabia or the Caucasus.

Emma Belcher and her husband Vic were travelling back to Heathrow Airport from a holiday in the Maldives via Dubai when their onward flight was cancelled.
“There is absolutely no information about when they might reopen the airspace, so we don’t know how long we’ll be here,” she said.

“We were really looking forward to getting home to see the children as we haven’t been away without them before.”
Steve Rudderham and his wife had been heading to the Maldives to mark their wedding anniversary but were left stranded in Doha during a planned stopover.

“As the days go on and the vacation is eroded, we’re looking at plans just to get back home,” he said.

Qatar Airways said its operations remained temporarily suspended because of the closure of Qatari airspace, adding that a further update would be issued at 09:00 local time on Monday (06:00 GMT).
Qatar’s defence ministry said Iranian missiles were intercepted after explosions were heard in Doha.

The United Arab Emirates also reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, while footage appeared to show a US facility in Bahrain being struck. Kuwait said it too had been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Explosions were reported at Erbil International Airport early on Sunday.

The UK Foreign Office is warning against all travel to Israel and Palestine and against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

British nationals in the affected countries have been urged to register their presence with the Foreign Office, with more than 76,000 people having already done so, most of them in the UAE.

For Britons in Oman, officials advised those in Duqm to shelter in place, while those in Salalah were urged to leave as soon as commercial options allow and to follow local authority guidance.

UK nationals in Saudi Arabia have been told to remain indoors in secure locations. Those in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Turkey have been advised to remain vigilant and take shelter if instructed.

The Foreign Office also warned people in Pakistan to exercise caution around protests, demonstrations, rallies and religious gatherings after deadly pro-Iran protests erupted in several cities. Staff in the country have been told to restrict their movements.

Donald Trump cited the failure to secure an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as regime change, among the reasons for launching the attack.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Trump on Saturday, having earlier said British aircraft were “in the sky” over the Middle East as part of a defensive mission “to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.

Alongside the leaders of France and Germany, he urged Iran to avoid “indiscriminate” strikes.

Source: BBC

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here

Email: editorial@hicginewsagency.com TalkBusiness@hicginewsagency.com WhatsApp +256713137566

Follow us on all social media, type “HICGI News Agency” .